Improvement in time-locks for safes



P. P. KING.

Time-Look f0r Sa,fes &0.

No. 200,312; Patented Feb. 12,1878.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHlN GTON, D C

'3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Q 3 Sheen-Sheetv 3.

v P. F. KING. Time-Lock for Safes,&0.

No. 200,312. Patented Feb. 12,1878

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UNITED STATES PATENT PHIN-EAS KINGQOF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR'TO'G. N. BEARD AND E. "J. BEARD, OF- SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT-IN iTIM E-LO CKS FOR S-AF-ES', &0.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No.- -200,-3l2, datedFebruary 12,1878; application filed April 23, 1877.

To'all whom tit-may concern 'Be it known that=I, PHINEAs-F. K1*NG, ofSt. Louis, in the county of Sh-Louis and State of Missouri, haveinvented an Improved'Time- Lock forSafes, 850., of which the followingis a specification:

-The=.object of this invention :is to-form a lock or bolting device forsecuring the doors of safes independent or in connection with thebolt-work on safe-doors, operating a vertical or upright boltautomatically, or by means of clock work or movements, either single orcombined, and so arranged asto lock and unlock at anyrstate'd hour-orminute,'and also to allow the boltto. remain locked over'Sunday, ifdesired, automatically, and further arranged to unlock or throw the boltback unlocked automatically if the operator-should neglect to wind upthe movement, thus:pre-' senting a time-lock perfectly safe in itsoperation.

Having. given the object of my invention, I willhproceed to explain indetail the construction of this improved time-lock and its action as in.practical operation.

Of the drawing,tFignre-l' is an elevation of the lock, part of itscasing being removed to show the interior construction. Fig. '2 is asimilar elevation, in part, showing the operatingv parts adjusted in.position preparatory for locking purposes. :Fig. 3, Sheet II, is a likeelevation of the lock, showing-itsparts adju'sted when the bolt isinlocked position. Fig.4 is atop sectional plan on line'X X of Fig. '3.Fig. 5-isa part sectional elevation on lineX X of Fig.6. Fig. 6, SheetIII, is a top sectional elevation on lineX X of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional elevation on line X X of Figsy3 and 6. Fig.8 is aperspective view of the three-armed'lever. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof one of the triggersand its pawl. Fig. 10 is a side elevationof theoperating parts on the'clock-spindle.

-A represents the case or shell that contains the operatingparts of myimproved time-lock; A A representQthe location of 'the clock or. time'movements within the case. :Bisthe vertical bolt, madento operateuprightin: the center of the case and directly between the clock parts,for locking and unlocking purposes.

The bolt-is guidedin its operation'by' the face-block b and side guidesb eachof the latter having a tongue engaging the grooves on the sides ofthe-bolt. (See Figs. 3, 6.) The shank of the boltis curved (see 'Figs.1, 2, 3, 7) to bring its lowest point, containing an antifrictionroller, b inline of operation-with the incline slide. v Y

O is what'I-term my incline slide. The slide (J consists of a metalblock arranged-to slide along the bottom of the case. The body of theslide Ghas' 'the following constructive features: Thepassage or openchannel' -in which the bolt by its roller travels when both theslideandbolt operate for locking and un-' locking. purposes. The passage 0for this pur pose extends in a horizontal direction from left to right,near-the-baseof the slide; then'ce sa-id passage takes an incline courseto near top of the slide; thence its course is horizontally to the left,sufficientto form a bearing-surface; and, lastly, said passage curvesdownwardto point of starting atthe-lefthand cornerof the slide. (See-Figs.'1 ,-2,3.) The passages thus made'permits the slide O-to bewithdrawn sufficient to the left of the case in order to' be acted uponby spring-power, and that without disturbing the positionof the bolt.(See-Fig. 2.) Said passage furtherpermits the *slide to be adjusted,'bythe force of spring-power, to the position shown in Fi g.-3, in order toraise the'bolt toa locked position; and,'lastly,- said passage permitsthe slide to be forced-stillfarther to theright, in position showni11Fig.:-1, in order to restore the bolt to original-or unlockedposition.

The body-of the slide has, further, the incline c and the spring 0 Theincline has-its -face provided with the-fiat spring 0 (see Figs-1,

.2, 3,) the lower end thereof bridging the passage. The lower end ofthis spring gives way 'to the rigidpositionof theroller of the-bolt inthe act of drawing backthe slide 0 to the :left of the case; but saidpart of-thespring bridges the opening, in order that the slide, -whenforced to the right, can cause the roller and bolt to be elevated to alocked position.

In the upper part, right and left, the slide 0 has pins 0 and springs 0(See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5,) 7 These pins are'for the purpose of retainingthe slide 0 in its adjustable position, as will presently appear, thesprings a being to return the pins to an original position.

Projecting from the back of the slide 6 is a pin, 0 (See Fig. 7.) Thecompressed spring E (see Fig. 1) contained between the casing and theplate D acts upon the incline slide (3 through the medium of its pin 0and this latter compresses the spring E when the operator draws back theslide to first position. It will therefore be noted that the body of theslide G has the following featuresviz.,the passage 0, the incline a, thefiat spring 0 the pins and springs 0 c and the pin c --as essentialparts. The slide 0, with all its parts, I arrange between the top andbottom plates 0 c and, further, said slide can have its top and bottomfaces provided with a groove, to engage the respective projecting edgesof said plates 0 a", asshown in Fig. 7, and for the purpose of guidingthe sliding action of said slide.

E is a cap or plate placed directly over the slide 0 and fitted parallelwith the bottom of case A, and extending from left to right of same.This plate E is provided with slots 6 c and the center opening 6 (SeeFigs. 5 and 6.) The slots 0 e are elongated, the distance beingsufficient to accommodate the movements of the incline slide, and saidslots permit the pins 0 free movement or play during the action of theslide when it is operated either to the right or left. The center opening 0 permits the respective pins 0 at proper times to engage, in order toretain the incline slide in the various positions shown in Figs. 1,2, 3.Thus, when the slide C is in position shown in Fig. 1, the pin a to theright plays freely in the slot e while the pin 0 to the left engages thecenter .opening a. When the pin 0 so holding the incline slide, isreleasedfrom engaging the center opening 6 and by the means hereinafterto appear, the incline slide can be drawn back to the left in positionshown in Fig. 2. Then the left-hand pin 0 plays in the elongated slot 6,while the right-hand pin 0 is in engagement with the center opening 6When the incline slide is in position shown in Fig. 3, the right-handpin is free in the slot 0, while the left-hand pin holds the said slideby having entered the said center opening 6 In the movement of theincline slide from right to left, or vice versa, the spring 0 of the pin0 that is in engagement with the center openin g 0 must be depressed, inorder to release said pin and permit said action of the incline slide totake place. To operate the respective pins 0 and their springs c for thepurpose juststated, I provide a reciprocating slide-bar, F, to actuate athree-armed lever, G.

The reciprocating bar F has a raised arm, f, and, further, at each endsaid bar has a slot and screw, f. By means of the arm f the connectionof the bar F with the three-arm lever G is made, while the slots andscrews f" secure said bar F, and allow it to have a sliding motion. (SeeFigs. 1, 2, 3.)

The three-arm lever G is positioned directly back of the bar F, the twolower arms/of G extending in" opposite directions and parallel with theplate E, so that the outer ends g of the said lever G shall be exactlyover the slots in said plate and in line ,with the pin 0 of the inclineslide 0. (See Figs. 1, 2, 6.) The ends 9 of the three-armed lever G arepoints projecting down directly over pins 0 and in other particulars theconstruction of said lever isas shown in Fig. 8. The lever Gthus made isproperly pivoted by its rear projecting spindle, (see Fig. 8,) so thatit can oscillate. Its. upright arm (see Fig. 8) may engage in anywell-known way with the raised arm f of the slide-bar F, so that whenthe same is caused to reciprocate it imparts an oscillating movement tosaid three-arm lever.

It is the oscillation of G that at the required time causes its points9, respectively, to .depress the pins 0 in order that the incline slide0 can be operated for locking and unlocking purposes.

G" is the trigger that imparts the required reciprocation to theslide-bar F. The trigger G is secured, by studs or pins at its lowestend, to the slide-bar F, the centers of said trigger being properlypivoted. (See Figs. 1, 2., 3.) The head of the trigger G is formed withouter and inner bearing-edges, as shown at g 9 (see Fig. 9,) whichlatter features are for the purpose of being acted upon by therespective locking and unlocking arms, and as .will herein after appear.

My safety or unlocking deviceconsists of the parts now to be enumeratedwith relation to a safety pawl or lever, H, which forms party of thetrigger G. By safety or unlocking device I desire to be understood asreferring to parts that unlock automatically the bolt B in cases wherethe operator has neglected to wind up the clock-spring, or which insurethe unlocking of the bolt in case the clock-movement has run down. Thissafety or unlocking device consists of the safety-pawl H, a pinion, h,and gear h, and the clock-movement. The safety-pawl H is firmly attachedto the inner projecting center bearing of the trigger G, and projectsdiagonally upward, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 9. The pinion h isrigidly secured to the clock-spindle H, and the gear h is arrangedalongside of said pinion, to gear with same. (See Figs. 3 and 10.) Thegear It can be made in proportion to the size of the pinion, as may bepractical, or as may be in proportion to the mainspring of theclock-movement, allowing the movements to run a certain number of daysor hours, or as near the end of the working of the mainspring as may besafe without winding. The gear h is provided with a pin, h, (see Fig..4,) projecting out from its face, to engage with the safety-pawl H, and,pressing this, to cause the slide-bar F to oscillate to one side thethree-arm lever G, so that same causes the pin 0 to disengage to permitthe incline slide G to slide and produce the unlocking of the bolt. Thegear k is four times the diameter of the pinion. This latter, beingsecured to the clock-spindle, revolves once around in twenty-four hours,thus causing the gear h to revolve once around in ninety-six hours, orfour days; and if the operator has neglected to wind up theclock-spring, when this time has arrived the engagement of the safetyand unlocking device, as above stated, with the trigger slide-bar,three-armed lever, and incline I slide, will cause the bolt B to bebrought to an unlocked position.

b (see Figs. 1, 3, 4, 10) is the ratchetwheel, securely fastened to theclock-spindle. This ratchet-wheel is for the purpose of carrying aroundthe lockin g-arm. h is the lockingarm. It hangs loosely, so as to befree to turn upon the clock spindle. (See Figs. 1, 3, 4, 10.) Formingpart of the locking-arm h is a pivoted pawl, with spring its, soarranged that the pawl engages with the ratchet-wheel 71. and .sothatthe rotation of said ratchet-wheel will carry the locking-arm alongwith it, to strike by coming in contact with the trigger G at g andactuate the latter to produce, through the medium of theslide-barF,three-arm lever G, and the disengagement of the incline slide 0, thelocking action on part of the bolt.

The adjustability of the locking-arm h enables the operator to lock thebolt earlier or later, according to the requirements of. the case.Thus,-when the locking action takes place at a certain time, and it isdesired to unlock the bolt earlier, the operator simply sets thelocking-arm back in position, with relation to the trigger G, so thatthe same is earlier operated upon by said locking-arm. The locking-arm hhas a raised hub, h. (See Figs. 1, 3, 11.) It is this part that atproper time (when the lockingarm comes in contact with the trigger G)strikes against the outer edge 9 of the trigger for locking purposes.

h is the unlocking-arm, also fitted to turn freely upon theclock-spindle, and it is provided on its outer end with a hub, h", toengage with the trigger G on its inner edge 9 to produce the unlockingof the bolt through the parts F G and incline slide 0. For the purposeof actuating the unlocking-arm it is further provided on the inner edgeof its hub (or outer end of the arm) with a pin, if, said pin being toengage at proper time with a pin on the dogwheel, for forcing theunlocking-arm around for unlocking the bolt.

I is the adjustable dog-wheel, and is provided on its outer surface witha sliding pin, a, held in place by a spiral spring. (See Figs. 4, 10.)Said pin is made to engage with the pin just before mentioned on theunlockingarm k at the proper time for the latter to perform the actionto unlock the bolt. On the face of the dog-wheel I is a slot cut throughto the sliding pin, and a pin, i, set at right angles with the face ofthe wheel, (see Fig. 10,) passes through said slot and forms part of thesliding pin. It is the pin ii that operates the sliding pin, as willhereinafter appear.

I-is a thumb-screw, and is attached to end of the clock-spindle, and canbe so arranged that, in screwing it down hard, it will securely fastenthe dogiwheel I in adjusted position.

J is the marker or seven-day wheel. This is constructed so as to allowthe unlockingarm h to dropbackv or remain stationary for twenty-fourhours, thus permittingthe operator to leave the safe looked over Sunday,

which said operation and result are done automatically by means of theclock-movement in combination with the dog-wheel I and said seven-daywheel. Hence, the seven-day wheel J is provided with seven arms, j, orspokes,

which are so arranged that the pin 1" will engage with each spoke inrotation until the wheel has revolved quite around. The spaces betweenthe spokes j are all of sufficient depth to allow said pin 2" to passand rotate the wheel without depressing the sliding pin i of thedo'g-wheel. There is the exception of one or the seventh space, j. Thisis made of less depth, and will not allow the pin t" to pass aroundwithout depressing the spring and pin t' and thus, by means of saidaction on part of the seven-day wheel and the pin i, the unlocking-armis caused to drop back into a pendent position, which postpones theunlocking action of the bolt or the unlocking of the safe fortwenty-fourhours.

K is the hanger or support for the sevenday wheel, and is properlysecured to top of the case. Both time-movements are provided with thesame arrangement and operating parts that have just been described.

The construction and arrangement of the.

parts comprising my improved time-lock bein g as shown and described, Iwill now explain the practical operation of the same when setting thelock for locking and unlocking. Draw the slide back hard to the leftuntil one of its pins engages with the opening or slot in the plate E,thus holding said slide in position preparatory for locking the bolt. Asthe clock-spindle moves around by means of the clock-movements, thelocking-arm is caused to engage at the proper time with the trigger,

-which, acting upon the slide-bar F, causes the three-arm lever G todepress the pin 0 that holds the slide 0, relieving same, which permitsthe compressed power of the mainspring, acting directly upon said slideto force it to the right a sufficient distance to elevate the bolt B toa locked position, and when it is at that precise point the other pin 0will engage with the opening in the upper plate, and thus both bolt andincline slide are held inlocked position, and remain .so until theunlocking-arm is forced around to perform the reverse action. Thereverse action takes place by the dogwheel causing the unlocking-arm atproper time to come in contact with the trigger, and this, operating theslide bar F and three-arm lever G, produces the unlocking action. At

the same time that the unlocking -"'arm is forced around, theright-angle pin on the dog-' wheel will engage with a space or recess inthe seven-day wheel. At each revolution this action will follow inrotation six times. As the revolution is made the seventh time (orrepresenting the seventh day or Sunday) the space with the less depth onthe seven-day wheel.

depresses the right-angle pin on'dog-wheel, causing its sliding pin torelease its hold on the unlocking-arm, which then drops to a pendentposition, and remains so for twenty-four hours, or until the dog-wheelpasses around to engage with said unlocking-arm. The bolt is thereforeheld in a locked position over Sunday automatically, and theunlocking'of the bolt takes place at the proper time on Monday. Myautomatic safety device is actuated by gearing on the clock-spindle, andacts on the safety-pawl H.

The operation of the time=spindle sets the gearing in rotation, and thiscan be made to unlock at any time designed, or as in proportion to therunning of the time-movementssay two, three, four days, or more. Theaction here represented is to throw the bolt back in four days, thespring of the time-movements being supposed to be in proportion. As thepinion is made to engage the wheel or gear four times its diameter, thepin on gear-wheel will engage at the end of each ninety-six hours afterwinding with the safety device or pawl H, and pressing itto theright-hand, by means of its attachment with the sliding bar andthree-arm lever, will bring about the unlocking of the bolt.

What I claim is- 1. The elevating incline slide 0, provided with itscenter piece and flatxspring-pins 0 the plate E having slots 0 6 0 thespiral mainspring, in combination with the vertical bolt B,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The elevating incline slide 0, having pins 0 springs 0 in combinationwith plate E, having slots 6 e c ,as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The horizontal plate E, provided with its slots or openings, incombination with the elevating incline slide (1, having the springpinscand the bolt B, substantially as 'and for the purposes set forth. 7

4. The three-armed lever G, provided with the lower projecting pointsand center bearing, in combination with the reciprocating slide-barli,substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

5. The vertical lever or trigger G, provided with center bearing,flattened side edges g g, in combination with the reciprocating slidebarF, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The locking arm provided with pawl and spring, and projecting hub atouter extremity, in combination with the ratchet or pawl wheel andvertical trigger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The dog-wheel I secured to clock-spindle, and provided with a slidingpin, and pin 'at right angle, and slot, in combinationwith the unlockingarm and trigger,'as and for'tlie purpose set forth.

8. The diagonal safetylever attached to vertical balance lever ortrigger, in 'comb'in'a tion with the safety unlocking device,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of thevertical bolt B, elevating incline slide 0,plate E,reciprocating slide-bar F, andthree-armed lever 'ortrip,substantiallyas'and for the purpose setforth.

10. The combination of the ratchet-wheel,

- lockin g-arm, unlocking-arm,dog-wheel, marker or seven'day wheel,trigger, and reciprocating slide, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The 'marker'or seven-day wheel having spokes j and space 9', incombination'with dogwheel having pin 6, as and for the purpose setforth.

12. The combination of the safety unlocking device, diagonal leve'r,vertical trigger, -reciprocating slide-bar, three -'armed lever 'ortrip, plate E, elevating incline slide 0, and vertical locking-bolt B,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set my hand.

PHINEAS F. KING. Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. HERTHEL, ELEAZAR J. BEARD.

